How do I sum up Cuba?
The truth is... I don’t know yet. I saw many different sides of it, in the different cities I went to. From big cities to small little towns in the countryside.
But one thing is constant - it really is a special place.
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Cuba was a very difficult country to figure out on the move... I won’t sugar coat that at all. Spontaneous travel there takes a lot more than just hopping on a train or an airplane. Sometimes you get to a city and every bus leaving there is full for the next two days, so you sign up on a waiting list and can do nothing but just wait and enjoy. You walk through the town to find an area you'd like to stay in... And then knock on a door of a house you'd like to sleep at. You're not using your phone, and internet is many times difficult to find for help when you need it so you really get to build your confidence in your intuition.
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Now, the difficulty in traveling is only because it’s a very primitive culture, which is also why I love it so much. You know what you’re going to get. The humanity is perfect and people treat you with the utmost kindness, and love to host and take care of you. They love to tell you about the special parts of their towns and what they are most proud of. They welcome you in immediately as family. When there’s a baseball game on, no one's doing anything but watching the game.
The culture is devoid of many opportunities that they would like to have but it simply does not hold them back from putting one foot forward every day. They wake up and make their beds, sweep their doorsteps and prepare for the day.
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There is no rushing. And I mean no rushing at all.
I mean, when you see it the way they live... It makes you even wonder why we are always rushing so much. There’s always time for them to stop and give you a kiss/hug and ask about your day. Always time to help someone out with a flat tire, or have a drink with.
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It is a culture that is very, very dependent on community... In the best way possible. On helping each other in any ways that they can. When you have that, you see a lot of poverty but you don't see the struggle as much as you might expect to. They might need to wait two hours for bread but the line is full of lively conversation.
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And, on that note... Cuba is LOUD. Especially Havana. In the absolute best way possible.
It feels so incredibly alive.
There's very little technology so almost everyone is outside... Just living. People aren't looking at their phones... They're talking to the people around them or just staring off into space. Musics blasting in the open windows. Cars are wonderfully loud. And kids are playing in the streets... Barefoot and many times with anything they can find to make up games to play.
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Conversations are long. People really care how you're doing... and they really want to hear your stories. The full length stories. Meals aren't rushed. There's always time for another cup of coffee or glass of rum.
The people of Cuba are pure. They are proud of what they come from, yet I never saw any ego. They just love to share the home the special parts of their towns, and their home.
They can be trusted. They can be photographed. They are gracious. They are kind.
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It’s very clear that, yes, they are in a very tough economic spot and they are very aware of it. They will talk about their frustrations with it... Realizing it will take a lot of work to ever see their economy in a better place.
But they will get through it, and they will get through it together. And not a second of life will be missed along the journey there.
